On his way into the ballroom Zell had to stop several times for small talk. Anyone wanted to congratulate him on his passed exam and all of them were impressed by the high score of his test. When he finally arrived at the ballroom entrance he was already exhausted and a little embarrassed about all of the compliments he had received. Being everyone's friend sometimes had its downside.
Zell sighed deeply trying to shake the weariness out of his body. He hadn't even started dancing! Not that he had anyone in mind for doing that anyway. Walking onward he spotted Squall leaning on a wall on the side of the room, champagne glass in hand sipping on it casually. The martial artist walked over, planning on congratulating someone else for once. He stopped right in front of Squall. Grinning wide he said "Yo! S'up, Squall? Heh-heh, I guess we're both SeeDs now, huh?" He extended his arm waiting for Squall to shake his hand. "Put it there, man." Zell encouraged him, but Squall did not seem very interested in a handshake and Zell's grin faltered a little bit. Then he shrugged it off. "Hah, even as a SeeD, you're still the same. Well, that's typical of you." Afterwards he waved the gunblader goodbye and started to walk away. "See ya."
As he turned he saw Selphie talking to several students, he was a little confused when she started scowling at them and they scooted off. He cocked his head at that. She noticed him soon after and rushed towards him, smile almost alluring as she suddenly clinged to his arm. "Oh...hey, Zell. Wanna join the Garden Festival committee and..." Ohh that's what all that was about, he freed himself quickly from her grasp. "Sorry, I...ahh..." Selphie tried to stop him from fleeing but he dodged her attempt at doing so. "Just remembered something!" He yelled. "G-Gotta go. See ya!"
He could practically feel Selphie's glare on his back as he quickly walked away. Trying to get as much distance between her and himself as he could. He wandered around the room for a bit, wondering for a moment what to do next. He could go over to the buffet and grab something to eat. His stomach rumbled at that thought and he mused that this would probably be a good idea.
Just as he was about to put his thought into practice, he saw Fuujin standing near the buffet. 'So Seifer IS here after all' Zell thought and began to glower around the room. But the older blonde was nowhere to be seen and Zell realized that no, Seifer wasn't here and in fact Fuujin was alone and she looked rather unhappy at that. 'Well…' Zell thought, 'Even more unhappy than usual.'
As he started to make his way over, he took a moment to really look at her. Her short hair was undone and the eye patch in place but that was about it for her usual appearance. He realized for the first time that evening that she wore a dress, which startled him a little bit, having seen her only in her all blue uniform. And it was a nice dress at that, he thought. It was long, with only one strap over her left shoulder and the color of a deep blue. No accessory.
Just as he was about to greet her she looked at him, surprise clear on her face and said "Chicken?" Zell almost fell over. 'Damn Seifer and those stupid nicknames!' He clenched his fists but quickly reminded himself that this was Fuujin and not Seifer, so instead of picking a fight then and there he said "Hey. What's up?" Hesitating for a moment he added "You look kinda…upset." She avoided his gaze saying nothing, only sipping on her drink Zell hadn't noticed until now. "Stood up." She murmured then and Zell bit his lip, realizing. "Oh." He answered intelligent as ever. 'Who would be this mean?' He asked himself gaze wandering around the room, searching desperately for something to change the topic to. Eventually he caught sight of a girl dragging Squall to the dance floor. Raising an eyebrow at that, he turned back to Fuujin, who was clearly lost in thought but also watched the dancing figures in the room.
Then an idea struck him. When Squall was able to get a girl to dance with him then Zell would too. Maybe he could even cheer her up at least a little bit. So without further thinking he held out his hand to her. "Wanna dance?" He asked, smiling and almost laughing when her eye went wide. "Joke?" She asked suspiciously and furrowed her brow. "No, I'm serious. Come on jus' one dance."
Fuujin hesitated, looking around the room before putting her glass down and slowly taking Zell's hand. "One." She then said almost shy and barely audible, like someone would judge her for saying it. "Great!" Zell answered cheerfully and guided her to the dance floor. He bowed before her and they got into a dancing position. Just in time for the music to start. To the right. To the left. One step forward. One backward. Circle around each other. Take her hand. Spin. He spun her around and back into his arms. They both knew the steps because it was one of the first choreographies they had learned in Balamb Garden for occasions like this.
Zell smiled realizing that he was actually enjoying himself very much and was relieved to see that Fuujin seemed a little more relaxed than before, too. It went on for a while like this. Until the last refrain was over and the room suddenly went dark and on the outside fireworks went off. Fuujin and Zell both stopped and looked up to the glass dome above their heads to enjoy the flashing lights for a bit. The music trailed off and some pairs left the dance floor. Fuujin and Zell did the same, walking back to the table were Fuujin had left her glass.
"Gratitude." Fuujin said and Zell thought he had just seen the faintest of smiles on her face. "Don't mention it." Zell answered raising his hand. "It was nice. You are a good dancer." Fuujin picked her glass back up sipping on it before looking at him responding. "Same." Zell grinned at her, thinking for a moment what to say next. He then put a hand behind his head and asked "Soo… we're friends now?"
Fuujin frowned but seemed to consider it for a moment. "Difficult." She concluded then gazing into the distance for a moment before turning back to him. "Seifer." She said then and Zell frowned as well. "You mean you can't be friends with me because of that jerk?" Fuujin shook her head and Zell was not sure if it was an answer to his question or out of frustration for him not understanding her right. But she seemed angry with him, so probably both. "Anger." She said clearly upset about Zell insulting Seifer. "Sorry." He said remembering the older blond was one of her best friends.
She nodded, her expression going back to a neutral one. She was accepting his apology and Zell was glad she did, not wanting to ruin the moment they seemed to have here. "Seifer." She then said again pointing look on her face and Zell finally understood, turning slightly he now spotted mentioned person across the room, noticing that he too seemed to be watching them.
"Oh." Zell said, for the second time that evening. Fuujin had a guilty expression on her face and Zell sighed lowly an idea forming in his mind but not believing what he was about to say. "Ya know, ya can throw the rest of ya drink in my face if it makes him feel better."
Fuujin looked at him astonished and then down at the rest of her drink. "Positive?" She asked eyeing his uniform. "Sure, was about to shower anyway and uniforms can be washed, ya know?" She still seemed to hesitate but with one last glance to Seifer she nodded to Zell. He came a bit closer whispering "Just yell something in anger throw the drink and then storm off." He received another nod as an answer as well as another "Gratitude." He whispered "Hey, that's what friends are for." Before she stepped to the side so Seifer could see them better. "RAGE!" She yelled and threw the last bit of liquid into Zell's face. Afterwards she put her glass down on the table next to them and walked off.
Zell had to turn his back on her to hide his grin. Fuujin would definitely make a good actress, if she wouldn't be so tight-lipped. He wiped his face with his sleeve before turning back around to check if Seifer had bought it. Judging by the huge amused grin he received from the older one, he had. Zell scowled at Seifer to not spoil their act and with one last glance at Fuujin who, to his surprise, mouthed another little "Thanks." turned back to the buffet, planning on finally eating something.
While filling his plate with several things Zell could not help but feel like he had had a little triumph over Seifer, even though he was the one with the wet uniform.